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Singapore Consulate upgraded

CLOSE TIES: Balaji Sadasivan (left), Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Singapore, unveils the plaque on commemorating the upgrading of Singapore Consulate to Consulate-General in Chennai on Sunday. State PWD Minister Durai Murugan and Co nsul-General Ajit Singh (right), are also in the picture. Photo: K. Pichumani

Staff Reporter

"Largest number of Singapore companies in Tamil Nadu"

CHENNAI: "The [value of] total bilateral trade between India and Singapore has more than doubled to $ 16.6 billion in 2005. Tamil Nadu is attracting foreign investments and the largest number of Singapore companies being operated in India are in Tamil Nadu," said Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Singapore.

Speaking at a function held to mark the upgrading of the Singapore Consulate in Chennai Consulate-General on Sunday, he said ties between India and Singapore were very strong historically. "India has left a strong cultural imprint on Singapore, second home to many Indian nationals," he said.

Speaking on the ties being explored in education, he said several universities in Singapore and Tamil Nadu had signed memoranda of understanding and 12 schools in Singapore worked out exchange programmes with schools in Chennai.

Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan said Singapore and Tamil Nadu would strengthen ties and explore investment opportunities with each other.

"There has been a close link between Singapore and India, particularly Tamil Nadu, in trade, culture and education," he said.

He said it was a matter of great pride that Tamil was declared as one of the official languages in Singapore.

Ajit Singh, Singapore Consul-General in Chennai, said, the upgrading of the Singapore Consulate in Chennai reflected intense ties between India and Singapore. The ties would be expanded in a multifaceted manner, he said.

The new address of Singapore Consulate General is New No: 17-A, North Boag Road, T. Nagar. Phone: 28158207